Coker: Scandal not ‘distraction'

UTSA football players join head coach Larry Coker (center) for a team photo during Media Day for the UTSA football program at the Alamodome on Friday, August 19, 2011. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/Express-News

UTSA football head coach Larry Coker fields questions from the media at the conclusion of Media Day for the UTSA football program at the Alamodome on Friday, August 19, 2011. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/Express-News

UTSA President Ricardo Romo (center) is joined by football head coach Larry Coker (left) and athletic director Lynn Hickey (right) for a portait on Media Day for the UTSA football program at the Alamodome on Friday, August 19, 2011. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/Express-News

UTSA President Ricardo Romo (center) is joined by football head coach Larry Coker (left) and athletic director Lynn Hickey (right) for a portait on Media Day for the UTSA football program at the Alamodome on Friday, August 19, 2011. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo By KIN MAN HUI/Express-News

Safety Shane Jones (38) gestures for the cameras during Media Day for the UTSA football program at the Alamodome on Friday, August 19, 2011. Players had their photographs taken and were interviewed in anticipation of the school's first football game in two weeks. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Approached Friday morning outside the function at which UTSA would receive a $1 million gift from B.J. “Red” McCombs, Roadrunners football coach Larry Coker brushed off another request for comment on the scandal brewing at the University of Miami.

Something obviously changed between that point and UTSA's first media day, held later at the Alamodome. Because once Coker started talking, he almost wouldn't stop.

While he didn't directly address what he did or didn't know about the alleged activities of former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro, Coker did express sadness over the crisis threatening his former school, where he spent six years as an assistant and another six as head coach.

“I'm almost more distraught, because I was there for 12 years,” said Coker, whose 2001 national championship with the Hurricanes was perhaps the biggest reason he was hired to head the new program at UTSA.

“(It's) not a distraction, because I haven't done anything. But the people there, the players ... it's very hurtful, it really is.”

The NCAA is investigating Shapiro's claims that he lavished many illegal benefits on at least 72 Hurricanes players during a nine-year span, five of which coincided with Coker's stint as head coach. Coker said in Wednesday's statement he has not been contacted by the NCAA.

Coker was not mentioned in the story, nor has he been linked to the scandal outside of a statement from Shapiro's attorney that she “believes” he was aware of her client's activities. Coker made an initial comment to ESPN, saying he knew Shapiro by name only. He then declined all requests before opening up on Friday.

Coker said he addressed his players Thursday night, telling them the situation “could not” be a distraction as they begin final preparations for their inaugural season, which begins Sept. 3.

“I told the players ... ‘I'm here, I want to be here,'” Coker said. “‘It's been five years since I was at Miami. I'm your coach, this is my team.' That's what we're working for now.”

“You learn. I think we're a long way from something like that happening here at UTSA. But again, you learn from it. It's like I told the team, even before this went down, we make decisions that affect everybody.”

Several players said they had only a vague grasp on what allegedly occurred at Miami.

“We honestly don't even have time to watch ESPN because of camp,” receiver Jake Wanamaker said. “We've heard a little bit about it. But that's Coker's old school. He's here now with us, so we're really not concerned. We have all the faith in him as a coach.”

Of more immediate concern, said safety Nic Johnston, is the opener against Northeastern State, for which UTSA officials are expecting at least 50,000 fans.

“We're way too excited,” he said. “These last two weeks of camp have been rough, so we're really looking forward to get out and play. I think we're ready.”